Operation Fresh Start Inc

SEE NOTICE OF AWARD, ATTACHMENT 1 - TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ATTACHMENT D STATEMENT OF WORK, ABSTRACT.

OPERATION FRESH START YOUTHBUILD YOUTH WORKFORCE TRAINING AND AFFORDABLE HOME BUILDING

YOUTH BUILD

YOUTH BUILD

YOUTH BUILD

YOUTH BUILD

YOUTH BUILD

OPERATION FRESH START (OFS) SEEKS SUPPORT FOR A CONSERVATION ACADEMY CREW TO COMPLETE HABITAT RESTORATION AND STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE GLACIAL PASSAGE AREA (GPA), A COLLABORATIVE CONSERVATION LANDSCAPE THAT INCLUDES PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS MANAGED BY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, DANE COUNTY PARKS, AND THE ICE AGE TRAIL ALLIANCE. THE GPA CONTAINS ECOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT GRASSLANDS, HABITAT FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES AND MIGRATORY BIRDS, AND CULTURALLY IMPORTANT LANDSCAPES CONNECTED TO NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY.FUNDING WILL SUPPORT YOUNG ADULTS AGES 1624 ENROLLED IN OFSS CONSERVATION ACADEMY AS THEY COMPLETE INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, SEED COLLECTION, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND LAND STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES ACROSS SHARED CONSERVATION PRIORITY AREAS WHERE OPERATIONAL CAPACITY AND RESTORATION FUNDING ARE LIMITED. PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE HANDS-ON WORKFORCE TRAINING AND INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS IN CONSERVATION AND PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING PESTICIDE APPLICATION, CHAINSAW SAFETY, WILDLAND FIRE, URBAN FORESTRY, AND PUBLIC LAND CORPS CERTIFICATIONS.THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP, OFS PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN EXPOSURE TO CONSERVATION CAREERS AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITH FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, AND NONPROFIT LAND MANAGEMENT PARTNERS. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE STAFF WILL ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING RELATED TO IDENTIFICATION AND PROTECTION OF RARE SPECIES AND SENSITIVE HABITATS. THE PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS, IMPROVE HABITAT CONDITIONS WITHIN THE GPA, EXPAND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING ADULTS, AND HELP BUILD THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS.